The Mary Book Reader

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

When Christian Hochstetler returns to the Amish after seven years in captivity, he finds that many things have shifted. Captured as a child during the French and Indian War, Christian has spent much of his life among Native Americans, who cared for him and taught him their ways. Now that Christian is home, his father wants him to settle back into their predictable Amish life of farming, and Christian's budding friendship with Orpha Rupp beckons him to stay as well.

Yet Christian feels restless, and he misses his adoptive Native American family--who raised him as their own son. When faced with a life-altering decision, will Christian choose the Amish identity that his father desires for him? Or will he depart from his family and faith community yet again?

Christian's Hope tells the story of the younger brother of Joseph and son of Jacob, whom readers have come to love in the first two books in the Return to Northkill series. Based on actual events and written by a descendant of the Hochstetler family, Christian's Hope brings the sweeping epic of the Return to Northkill series to a soul-stirring end.

Ervin R. Stutzman is author of Jacob's Choice, Joseph's Dilemma, Tobias of the Amish, and Emma, A Widow Among the Amish. Born into an Amish home in Kalona, Iowa, Stutzman based the Return to Northkill series on the life of his ancestor, Jacob Hochstetler. He has been featured on TLC's "Who Do You Think You Are?"

This is book three in the Return to Northkill series. However I did not read the first two books in this series. It may have been better if I had read the first two . I would be familiar with some of the characters in the book. It would have made it more enjoyable to me.

This is a book based on historical truth. So it was very interesting to read the accounts that took place.

I gave this book 3.5 stars. I would suggest reading the first two books in the series first.

I received this book to review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Who are you when life is steady?Who are you when storms come? Most of us have been on the receiving end of rejection, a broken dream, or heartbreak. And while this is not an easy space to go through, when we are grounded in the truth, we can endure the tough times.

In this powerful book, Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow passionately shares glimpses of his journey staying grounded in the face of disappointment, criticism, and intense media scrutiny. Following an exceptional college football career with the Florida Gators and a promising playoff run with the Denver Broncos, Tebow was traded to the New York Jets. He was released after one season.

In Shaken, Tebow talks about what he’s learned along the way, building confidence in his identity in God, not the world. This moving book also features practical wisdom from Scripture and insights gained from others who have impacted Tebow in life-changing ways.

Tim Tebow is a two-time national champion, first round NFL draft pick, and Heisman trophy winner. After playing in the NFL for the Denver Broncos and the New York Jets, Tebow joined the SEC Network. In addition to his role on SEC Nation, the network's traveling road show, Tebow also contributes to a variety of other ESPN platforms. Through everything Tim's true passion remains the work of the Tim Tebow Foundation which he began in 2010. The foundation's mission is to bring Faith, Hope, and Love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need. The foundation is fulfilling that mission everyday by serving thousands of deserving children around the world.

I love Tim so this was a must read for me. We need more mentors like Tim, for our young people to look up to.

Let me start by saying this book was very well written.

This book lets you know Tim is very strong in his faith. It is such a remarkable read. It is not a biography by any means. It talks about his career and how he has kept his faith.

I really enjoyed this book from start to finish.

I gave this book 4.5 stars and I recommend it.

I received this book to review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Monday, October 24, 2016

Avery Truitt aches for true love—the kind she once shared with Prince Colin. Can she dare to hope for happily ever after, or is a fairy-tale ending beyond reach?

College volleyball star Avery Truitt has not seen her former flame, Prince Colin of Brighton Kingdom, since he suddenly pushed her away five years ago. But now, the sadness of losing her father and the joy of her sister Susanna’s pregnancy have brought Avery back to Brighton just in time for Cathedral City’s enchanting Christmas season.

Avery knows she can’t avoid seeing Colin—now the Kingdom’s most eligible bachelor—whether or not her heart is ready to relive the pain. But seeing him again might bring her the closure she needs after all this time.

When Colin finds himself at the center of a centuries-old Brighton tradition, he must decide whether to follow the path laid out before him or follow his heart to the only woman for whom he would ring the Pembroke Chapel Bell.

Can Colin convince Avery to meet him at the chapel on Christmas morning—as tradition dictates—or will Avery run back to her St. Simons home and pursue a coaching career as planned?

In the fourth installment of the Royal Wedding Series, New York Times bestselling novelist, Rachel Hauck, weaves a charming story of holiday romance as two broken hearts seek the love they once knew.

Rachel Hauck is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author.

A graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in Journalism, Rachel and her husband live in central Florida. She is a huge Buckeyes football fan.

Visit her at www.rachelhauck.com or www.facebook.com/rachelhauck

The Royal Wedding Series has been a great series and this fourth book in the series was fantastic and ended so good. It ties up all the lose ends from the series. This is the perfect book to grab a favorite throw and curl up with on a cool fall afternoon.

Loved the look at past generations. Such a great fall read.

I gave this book 5 stars and I HIGHLY recommend it.

I received this book to review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Thursday, October 20, 2016

In Shelley Shepard Gray’s third book in her Charmed Amish Life series, a respectable young woman finds herself falling for an Amish man from the wrong side of the tracks.

Amelia Kinsinger is the perfect Amish woman—at least according to her neighbors. And while Amelia takes pride in her role as homemaker, she’s also harboring a secret: She’s been in love with bad boy Simon Hochstetler for as long as she can remember. Too bad he’s about as far from “perfect” as an Amish man could get… but that’s exactly why she’s so drawn to him.

Life hasn’t been kind to Simon. He ran away from an abusive home at fifteen and things went downhill from there. Eventually, Simon landed in prison. But the experience changed him. Now back in Charm as a grown man, he’s determined to make a new life for himself and not think too much about his wild past…unless it pertains to Amelia.

He’s loved Amelia for years. To him, she represents everything good and kind in the world. When he realizes that she returns his affections, he starts calling on her in secret, even though her older brother Lukas—who just happens to be Simon’s best friend—has made it perfectly clear that Amelia deserves better. Simon disagrees and believes he’s the only one who can truly make her happy.

But when Amelia gets hurt, it sets off a chain of events that forces them to consider their future together—and face their past mistakes. There’s a chance for love… but only if Simon dares to trust Amelia with the secrets of his past.

Shelley Shepard Gray lives in southern Ohio and writes full time. A busy wife and mother of two, she spends her days writing and keeping track of her two teenagers. Her two dogs keep her company when she writes in her basement.

Shelley enjoys writing about the Amish and visits Amish communities in Adams and Holmes counties several times a year. When not spending time with her family or writing, she serves on several committees in her church.

She also bakes a lot, loves coconut cream pie, and will hardly ever pull weeds, mow the yard, or drive in the snow.

Shelley also spends a lot of time on line! Please visit her website, www.shelleyshepardgray.com to find out her latest news...or become her friend on FaceBook.

You are going to love Amelia with her secrets and all. As well as Simon. I opened this book to read a few chapters and before I know it I had read the whole book. It was one of Gray's best books to date. The characters were like real friends so easy to love and feel for.

I loved the first two books in The Charmed Amish Life series but this one was the best.

Don’t miss books three (A Sister’s Wish) and four (An Amish Family Christmas) in Shelley Shepard Gray’s Charmed Amish Life series. In A Sister’s Wish, when Amelia gets hurt, it sets off a chain of events that forces Amelia and Simon to consider their future together—and face their past mistakes. There’s a chance for love . . . but only if Simon dares to trust Amelia with the secrets of his past. In An Amish Family Christmas, Christmas is a time for family, and as the holiday draws closer, Julia and Levi will have to face their pasts together . . . in order to find the healing, support and love they so desperately desire.
Enter to win a book pack (a copy of A Sister’s Wish and a copy of An Amish Family Christmas) from Shelley. Five winners will be chosen! Click the image below to enter to win. The winners will be announced November 7th on Shelley’s blog!

In Shelley Shepard Gray’s fourth book in her Charmed Amish Life series, an unlikely Amish romance reveals that Christmas is a time for family, miracles—and love.

Ever since his father died in a tragic fire, Levi Kinsinger has felt adrift. Newly returned to Charm, Ohio, Levi is trying to fit into his old life, only to discover he seems to have outgrown it.

But when Julia, his young widowed neighbor, asks for his help with a Christmas project, Levi finds a sense of purpose for the first time in months. She and her daughter are new to Charm and could use a friend, a job Levi takes personally. Soon enough, friendship grows into attraction, but Levi can’t help having doubts. There’s something about Julia that doesn’t ring quite true…

Like Levi, Julia Kemps has survived her fair share of hardships—but only by hiding the truth of her past. Being an unmarried mother in an Amish community was unthinkable. Feeling hopeless, Julia did the only thing she could do: she moved to a new town and pretended to be a widow. But meeting Levi, she’s hopeful for the first time. Little by little, she begins to imagine telling him her darkest secret, and eventually…perhaps even sharing her life with him.

Christmas is a time for family, and as the holiday draws closer, Julia and Levi will have to face their pasts together…in order to find the healing, support and love they so desperately desire.

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Evocative Contemporary Romance Set in a Charming Inn on Beautiful Prince Edward IslandIn her kitchen at the Red Door Inn, executive chef Caden Holt is calm, collected, and competent. But when her boss asks her to show off their beautiful island to impress a visiting travel writer and save the inn, Caden is forced to face a world much bigger than her kitchen--and a man who makes her wish she was beautiful.

Journalist Adam Jacobs is on a forced sabbatical on Prince Edward Island. He's also on assignment to uncover a story. Instead he's falling in love with the island's red shores and Caden's sweets.

When Caden discovers Adam isn't who she thought he was, she realizes that the article he's writing could do more than ruin the inn's chances for survival--it might also break her heart.

Readers will discover hope for the hurting, joy for the broken, and romance for the lonely at the enchanting Red Door Inn.

By day Liz Johnson is a marketing manager for a Christian publisher. She finds time to write late at night and is a two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist. Liz makes her home in Nashville, TN, where she enjoys theater, exploring local music, and making frequent trips to Arizona to dote on her nieces and nephews. She loves stories of true love with happy endings and blogs about her adventures in writing at www.LizJohnsonBooks.com.

I loved book one of the Prince Edwards Island Dreams series Red Door Inn. And I really enjoyed going back to PEI. This is a place that would love to go spend a few weeks. The scenery, the folks who run the Inn, and Caden the cook, I a such a foodie. Caden and I would get along so well.

I really enjoyed Adam and Caden's story. I just wish it had been longer. I can't wait for next to read book three.

I gave this book 4.5 stars and I HIGHLY recommend this book well the series.

I received this book to review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Nell Holstrom wanted no part of her grandfather's barren gold mine that had taken the lives of her mother, father, and younger brother; even if there may still be hidden wealth inside. Instead, she went to Denver and took a job as housekeeper at the old Stone Hill Inn. Asa Stone was barely more than a boy when his father dragged him and his brothers to fight with Colonel John Chivington. But Asa refused to participate in the raid on the peaceful Cheyenne and Arapahoe; and when the smoke cleared, his father and brother lay among the slaughtered. Besieged by guilt, Asa wandered the West for years before returning to Denver to rebuild the old inn he'd inherited. Together, Nell and Asa work hard to restore Stone Hill. But when disaster hits the inn, Asa retreats into despair and Nell is forced to return to her family's mine. Asa faces the hard fact: He'll never be the man Nell deserves. Can he overcome the dark secrets of his past? And will Nell still love him when she learns the truth?

Once upon a time, best–selling author Loree Lough literally sang for her supper, performing before packed audiences throughout the Midwest. Now and then, she blows the dust from her 6–string to croon a tune or two for her grandkids or to sing at weddings or funerals, but she mostly just writes. Over the years, her stories have earned hundreds of industry and Readers' Choice awards and 4– and 5–star reviews. Loree has nearly five million copies of her books in circulation, and in March 2014, she added her hundredth published book to the shelves. She has written fiction and nonfiction for kids and adults (2,500–plus articles and 68 short stories), and four of her novels have been optioned for movies. To date, there are almost 66,000 letters in her "Reader Mail" file, and she has answered every one, personally. (A carton of books is on its way to Corinna P. of San Antonio, Texas, for writing the 65,999th letter. Corinna said she plans to donate the books to her local library!) Loree loves sharing learned–the–hard–way lessons about the craft and the industry, and her comedic approach to teaching makes her a favorite (and frequent) guest of writers' organizations, book clubs, private and government institutions, and college and high school writing programs in the U.S. and abroad. A writer who believes in "giving back," Loree dedicates a portion of her income to Soldiers' Angels, Special Operations Warrior Foundation, and several other worthwhile organizations (see the "Giving Back" tab at her Web site, http://www.loreelough.com, for a complete list). She splits her time between a tiny home in the Baltimore suburbs and an even tinier cabin in the Allegheny Mountains, where she continues to perfect her Critter Tracks Identification skills. She shares her life with her real–life hero, Larry, who rarely complains, even when she adds yet another item to her vast collection of "wolf stuff."

This is book two in the Secrets on Sterling Street series and it did not disappoint. It was just as good as Book one and you can tell Lough writes with so much heart and soul. You are truly touched after reading her books.Romance and action sprinkled with faith make this story worth reading.The characters are easy to love and relate to. You feel like you know them, they are so real.This was a 4 star book and I can't wait for the next book in this series.I received this book to review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Saturday, October 15, 2016

Everybody ends up somewhere in life.Wouldn’t you like to end up somewhere on purpose?

What breaks your heart?
What keeps you up at night?
What could be that should be?

Andy Stanley believes these questions are bread crumbs that lead to the discovery of personal vision. With down-to-earth practicality, Andy extracts principles from the story of Nehemiah to help you discover your purpose in life.

Visioneering includes helpful exercises and time-tested ideas for visionary decision-making, personal growth, and leadership at home and at work. Catch a glimpse of God’s incredible vision for your life, relationships, and business—and discover the passion to follow it.

Communicator, author, and pastor ANDY STANLEY founded Atlanta-based North Point Ministries in 1995. Today, NPM consists of six churches in the Atlanta area and a network of 30 churches around the globe that collectively serve nearly 70,000 people weekly. A survey of U.S. pastors in Outreach Magazine identified Andy Stanley as one of the top ten most influential living pastors in America.

Andy holds an undergraduate degree in journalism from Georgia State University and a master’s degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. He is the author of more than 20 books, including The New Rules for Love, Sex & Dating; Ask It; How to Be Rich; Deep & Wide; Enemies of the Heart; When Work & Family Collide; Visioneering; and Next Generation Leader.

In the digital world, his success reaches well beyond the local Atlanta area. Nearly 1.5 million of Andy’s messages, leadership videos, and podcasts are accessed from North Point’s website monthly.

In 2012, Your Move with Andy Stanley premiered on NBC after Saturday Night Live, giving him an even wider audience with which to share his culturally relevant, practical insights for life and leadership. Currently, over five million episodes are consumed each month through television and podcasts, underscoring Stanley’s impact not only as a communicator but also as an influencer of culture.

Nothing is as personal as his passion for engaging with live audiences, which he has pursued for over two decades at leadership events around the world. In high demand, he speaks to nearly 200,000 people at various annual events before audiences of both church and organizational leaders, including conferences such as Catalyst, Leadercast, Exchange, and the WCA Global Leadership Summit.

“I cannot fill their cups,” he often says of the opportunity to impact leaders in business and in ministry, “but I have a responsibility to empty mine.”

Andy and his wife, Sandra, have three grown children and live near Atlanta.

This a Revised and updated release. Andy Stanley has been around for some time and his books and preaching are spot on. I love the way he comes off not preachy and very knowledgeable about the Bible.

He uses scripture throughout this book and the stories that are in it are fantastic.

We all need to learn about our personal vision and this is the book to teach us.

I really enjoyed reading and studying this book.

I of course got a lot from this book and I gave it 5 stars. I HIGHLY recommend it.

I received this book to review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

“No matter where you go, no matter whether you succeed or fail, stand or fall, no gone is too far gone. You can always come home.”

At the age of eighteen, musician and songwriter Cooper O’Connor took everything his father held dear and drove 1,200 miles from home to Nashville, his life riding on a six-string guitar and the bold wager that he had talent. But his wager soon proved foolish.

Five years after losing everything, he falls in love with Daley Cross, an angelic voice in need of a song. But just as he realizes his love for Daley, Cooper faces a tragedy that threatens his life as well as his career. With nowhere else to go, he returns home to the remote Colorado mountains, searching for answers about his father and his faith.

When Daley shows up on his street corner twenty years later, he wonders if it’s too late to tell her the truth about his past—and if he is ready to face it himself.

A radical retelling of the prodigal son story, Long Way Gone takes us from tent revivals to the Ryman Auditorium to the tender relationship between a broken man and the father who never stopped calling him home.

Charles Martin is the New York Times bestselling author of 12 novels. He and his wife, Christy, live in Jacksonville, Florida. Learn more about him at charlesmartinbooks.com. Facebook: Author.Charles.Martin Twitter: @storiedcareer

True Martin style, this was a wonderful read. Martin is a master storyteller.

Retelling of the prodigal son was done in such a way that you will not put this book down until the very end.

he only thing I did not like was it ended way to soon and I have to wait for Martins next book. Very well executed. I love music was in this one. I am a fan of music, so that was refreshing.

This is a 5 star read. I HIGHLY recommend it.

I received this book to review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

White-knuckling can never get you where you want to go. But grace can.

You already know because you’ve tried: repeated attempts to earn God’s love and approval get you nowhere and leave you exhausted. When performance taints our relationship with him, the Christian life can turn into an unholy hustle. It was never meant to be like this.

In Saving the Saved, Pastor Bryan Loritts reveals the astonishing truth that God doesn’t want your spiritual scorekeeping. He simply wants your surrender. The punchline of the gospel of Matthew is just that—a message of grace and performance-free love to do-good, try-harder Jews who thought they had to earn their way into God’s favor. It’s an ancient message, yet it can be a lifeline to us today as we live in a world of performance metrics. Just as Matthew wrote to the Jews in his gospel, we were never meant to flounder under the pressures and anxieties of show Christianity. Make no mistake: we are called to live in obedience, but Jesus wants us to save us from the illusion that our actions can ever earn God’s acceptance of us.

In Pastor Bryan’s relevant, uncompromising style, Saving the Saved proclaims the good news that once the pressure is off to perform, we are free to abide. Beyond the man-made rules and the red tape, there is a God who knows you by name. Come and meet him as you’ve never known him before.

Bryan Loritts is the lead pastor of Abundant Life Christian Fellowship in Silicon Valley. A graduate of Cairn University (formerly Philadelphia College of Bible) and Talbot School of Theology, Bryan Loritts was recently voted one of the top thirty emerging Christian leaders. He is the co-founder of Fellowship Memphis—a multi-ethnic church where Bryan served for eleven years, helping it to grow from twenty-six people in a living room to several thousand. Pastor Bryan also served as pastor for preaching and mission at Trinity Grace Church in New York City, and is the author of several books. He is the President of the Kainos Movement, an organization aimed at establishing the multi-ethnic church in America as the new normal, and sits on the Board of Trustees for Biola University and Board of Directors for Pine Cove. He is the husband of Korie and proud father of three boys: Quentin, Myles, and Jaden. You can follow Pastor Bryan on Twitter @bcloritts.

A much needed book. Loritts wants us to understand that, Jesus wants us to save us from the illusion that our actions can ever earn God’s acceptance of us.

I found the scriptures through out this book are so refreshing and on point.

I really feel like Loritts gets this whole try harder to be accepted by Jesus.

I Highly recommend this book I gave this book 4.5.

I received this book from Wynn Wynn Media to review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Peter Carlisle was on his way to become one of Great Britain’s best rowers—until he injured his shoulder and lost his chance at glory. He’s determined to fight his way back to the top even if it means risking permanent disability to do so. It’s the only way he can find his way past failing the one person who never stopped believing in his Olympic dream.

When Peter and Emelia cross paths on her first night in Oxford, the attraction is instant and they find common ground in their shared love of Narnia. But can the lessons from a fantasyland be enough to hold them together when secrets of the real world threaten to tear them apart? Cobblestone streets, an aristocratic estate, and an antique shop with curious a wardrobe bring the world of Narnia to life in Kara Isaac’s inspiring and romantic story about second chances.

Kara Isaac is a romantic comedy writer who lives in beautiful Wellington, New Zealand. Her debut romantic comedy, Close To You, is about a disillusioned academic-turned-tour-guide and an entrepreneur who knows nothing about Tolkien who fall in love on a Tolkien themed tour of New Zealand. When she's not working her day job as a public servant, chasing around a ninja preschooler and his feisty toddler sister, she spends her time writing horribly bad first drafts and wishing you could get Double Stuf Oreos in New Zealand. She loves to connect with readers on her website www.karaisaac.com, on Facebook at Kara Isaac - Writer and Twitter @KaraIsaac

Are you ready for another romance from Author Kara Isaac?

Her second book released today and you are not going to want t miss it.

Fans of C.S. Lewis are going to flip over this one. Isaac makes reference to C. S. and it's such a refreshing read.

This was a very entertaining read. I enjoyed it.

I gave this one 4 stars. I recommend it.

I received this book from Wynn Wynn Media to review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Monday, October 10, 2016

Sarah Rodriguez experienced more loss and heartache in a short period of time than most people will endure in a lifetime. Infertility. Miscarriage. Her husband Joel’s cancer diagnosis (not once, but twice). Her husband’s death. Her two-week-old baby girl in a fight for her life. . . And still, Sarah clung to her faith. From Depths We Rise is a miraculous story of hope and overcoming. Sarah's is a journey of beauty from ashes, of marching toward purpose out of the pain. Her awe-inspiring story will encourage you to grasp tightly to your faith and to rise above even the most daunting of circumstances.

Saturday, October 8, 2016

Pastor Paul has been handed the promotion of his dreams, but his formerly supportive wife doesn't share his sentiment about moving. She liked where she was. She liked her home, church family, and coffee with friends while the kids were at day care. Why did they have to move? For the first time in their seven-year marriage, Paul feels distance growing between them. As he struggles to minister to difficult people in his congregation, he also finds he has to minister to his own family. Will it be enough in time to create a united home for Christmas?

Multiple award-winning author Kathi Macias's more than 40 books include the Quilt series, Freedom series, and the award-winning Extreme Devotion novels for New Hope Publishers. Her devotionals reach hundreds of thousands through the Christian Civic League, Black Christian News, Latino Christian News, Christians in Recovery, and crosswalk.com. The Excellence in Media Angel Award, San Diego Christian Writers Guild fiction awards, Golden Scroll Novel of the Year (Red Ink), Carol Award finalist (Red Ink), 2011 Author of the Year for BooksandAuthors.net, and an international writing contest grand prize are some of her credits. A popular speaker for women's retreats, conferences, churches, and TV and radio programs, Kathi also loves outreach to prison and homeless ministries, and praying for and aiding the persecuted church globally. A mother and grandmother, Kathi lives with her husband, Al, in California.

I am a fan of Macias and I have read everyone of her books. A Husband's Christmas Prayer is a little different than her other books. While it was an enjoyable read, it was true Macias style, inspirational, clean, faith based read.

I never put it down once I opened it. Its an easy read. Great family, the characters were very true to life characters.

This read like watching a Hallmark movie. You won't stop reading until the very last page.

I gave this book 4 stars. I HIGHLY recommend this one.

I received this book to review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Friday, October 7, 2016

As the year draws to a close, the brand-new colony of Promise Lodge is thriving, a welcoming community that offers three Amish sisters a fresh start. And as Christmas approaches, gifts big and small are given with love . . . As Promise Lodge’s first wedding arrives, the evidence of a community building a foundation for the future is a cause for celebration. But the bishop’s narrow-minded wedding sermon doesn’t sit well with the Bender sisters, the town’s courageous founders, especially widowed Mattie Schwartz. She believes marriage and family aren’t the most important of God’s gifts—even if she suspects her tender feelings for Preacher Amos Troyer run deeper than simple friendship.

Amos hasn’t given up hope that stubborn, spirited Mattie will change her mind about taking another husband, but when an accident threatens to change the course of his life forever, he wonders if the Lord has sent him a message. He’ll need faith, hope, and charity to find the right path—and a Christmas blessing to convince Mattie to walk it with him.

Charlotte Hubbard sold her first historical romance in 1990, and she’s been a slave to her overactive imagination ever since. As she writes, her stories invariably take on a life of their own, different from the way she proposed them: unforeseen characters and plot twists come along, and they keep her guessing right along with her readers!

Charlotte has lived in the Midwest most of her life. When she’s not writing, she loves touring historic homes, trying new recipes, crocheting, and playing with her Border Collie, Ramona. She’s a Presbyterian deacon, sings in her church choir, and plays in the percussion ensemble. She’s married to a fine man who—bless him—has never once suggested she get a real job!

Hubbard is really good at writing touching, harmwaming books. She never disappoints. I was so excited to return to Promise Lodge and find out what all my favorite characters are up to now. Mattie and Amos are my favorite characters. I just fell in love with them. If you are looking for a good book full of love, faith, and family run out and get this book. A very good Christmas read.

I gave this book 4 stars. I recommend it.

I received this book to review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Violet Hawthorne is beyond mortified when her brother Ezra turns their deceased parents' New England country inn into a brothel to accommodate the nearby lumberjack ;but when Violet's own reputation is compromised, the inn becomes the least of her worries. In an effort to salvage her good name, Violet is forced into an engagement with a taciturn acquaintance Vance Everstone. As she prepares for a society wedding, Violet learns that her brother had staked her hand in marriage in a heated poker game with the unsavory Rowen Steele, and Ezra had lost. Now Rowen is determined to cash in on his IOU. With danger stalking her and a new fiance who hides both his emotion and his past, Violet must decide who to trust and who to leave behind.

Dawn Crandall is an ACFW Carol Award-nominated author of the award winning series The Everstone Chronicles, which currently consists of: The Hesitant Heiress, The Bound Heart and The Captive Imposter. The Cautious Maiden is her fourth book.
Apart from writing, Dawn is also a mom of two little ones and serves with her husband in a premarital mentorship program at their local church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
A graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Christian Education and a former bookseller at Barnes & Noble, Dawn Crandall didn't begin writing until 2010 when her husband found out about her long-buried dream. It didn't take her long to realize that writing books was what she was made to do.
Dawn is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the secretary for the Indiana ACFW Chapter (Hoosier Ink), and an associate member of the Great Lakes ACFW Chapter.

I'm a Contemporary kind of gal but I have to tell you something. From time to time I read Historical.

Well this book just may be one of the best Historical books that I have read. I really enjoyed it.

Its a love story with love, and redemption. There is even a little suspense thrown in the mix. You don't want to miss this one.

If you missed the first three books don't worry, this can be read as a stand alone.

I gave this book 4 stars. I recommend this one.

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

The lake is crystal blue, the hills roll for miles, and breaking news travels via the Methodist prayer chain. But don’t let the postcard fool you. Coldwater Cove, Oklahoma, leavens its small-town charm with plenty of Ozark snark. For Lacy Evans, returning to flyover country is the definition of failure. She had everything she wanted—an award-winning design firm, a chic city condo, a handsome, aristocratic almost-fiancé. Then her boyfriend ran off with her receptionist and her clients' money. Now she’s out of business and crashing on her parents’ couch. When she slides into a booth at the Green Apple Grill, she's feeling lower than a worm's belly.

But Lacy’s old classmate Jacob Tyler is happy to see her. Coldwater’s football hero came back from Afghanistan short part of a leg and some peace of mind, but he’s counting his blessings, and Lacy could be one of them. Then there’s her ex, Daniel, wearing a sheriff’s badge and a wedding ring, but looking like young summer love. And a host of unlikely serendipities: the selfless do-gooders who sneak around taming curmudgeons and constructing second chances. The Fighting Marmots. The sprawling, take-no-prisoners Bugtussle clan.

Lacy thought she knew her hometown, and herself. She just wanted to get on her feet and keep running. But the longer she stays, the more she finds to change her mind. . .

Lexi Eddings is the pen name of multi-published author Diana Groe, who has written for Kensington, Sourcebooks, and Entangled. A classically trained soprano, she calls her historical work a cross between Grand Opera and Gilbert and Sullivan. Her historical romances have received glowing reviews from Booklist, Publishers Weekly,and RT Book Reviews.

This was book one in the Coldwater series. I like a romance that builds slowly over time, and this one did just that.

This was a first read for me by Eddings but it won't be my last.

It has great character development and its a fresh new romance. The hero has PSTD so the author has done her research very well on this. I think that this book reads like you are watching a movie.

I gave this book 4 stars. I recommend it.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for my honest review.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Fan Favorite Suzanne Woods Fisher Offers Readers Tender Romance, Humor, and Plenty of SurprisesBright, curious, and restless, Ruthie Stoltzfus loves her family but is stuck in a sea of indecision about her future: Should she stay Amish? Or should she leave? She's done all she can to prepare to go--passed the GED, saved her money--but she can't quite set her journey into motion.

Patrick Kelly is a young man on a journey of his own. He's come to Stoney Ridge to convert to the Amish and has given himself thirty days to learn the language, drive a buggy, and adapt to "everything Plain." Time, to Patrick, is of the essence. Every moment is to be cherished, especially the hours he spends with Ruthie, his Penn Dutch tutor.

Ruthie's next-door neighbor and cunning ex-boyfriend, Luke Schrock, is drawn to trouble like a moth to a flame. Rebellious, headstrong, defiant, Luke will do anything to win Ruthie back--anything--and Patrick Kelly is getting in his way.

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites readers back to Stoney Ridge for a story of dreams deferred and hopes fulfilled--complete with Fisher's signature twists that never fail to leave readers delighted.

Suzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than a dozen novels, including The Imposter, The Quieting, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and The Heart of the Amish. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher.

Book three in The Bishop's Family did not disappoint. It could be read as a stand alone but I would suggest enjoying the whole series.

Stay Amish or not to stay Amish that is the question? And I loved following Ruthie's story all the way from getting her GED to her love life.

This was a super adventure and I really enjoyed Patrick Kelly's story.

I gave this book 4 stars and I recommend this one. Don't miss this one.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for my honest review.

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About Me

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life I LOVE to get away in a super book. I love to cook and bake and spend time with my friends. I have the best Yorkies in the world, they love to lay with me while I am reading. The Lord is everything to me.I have an awesome husband! A small fact about me: I never leave home without a book!
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